PREVENT strategy consultation response

As part of the UK wide PREVENT strategy, we have responded to the consultation on its implementation in Scotland

The Scottish Government carried out a consultation in January 2015 on the proposed changes to their “Prevent” counter-terrorism strategy. The changes included a legal requirement for HEI staff to “monitor” students for extremist behaviour and a requirement for the University to manage potential extremist speakers or events even when held off-campus.

We were also concerned by the apparent focus of the consultation on Muslims living & studying in Scotland and the implied link between prayer/faith activity and radicalisation/extremism activity. GUSRC believe strongly that all students who chose to study in Scotland have the right to do so safe in the knowledge that their human rights, freedom of expression and right to religious belief will be protected by law. We submitted a robust response containing objections to these and a number of other issues raised in the consultation and encouraged the Scottish Government to consult more widely on the strategy before taking forward any legislative changes.